Individuals, communities, nations and the broader global community all hold visions of what they seek to become. Development is the evolutionary process of creating the conditions necessary to achieve those visions. Development also refers to outcomes, the specific sustainable changes in human behavior that occur as this process unfolds. Accordingly, development takes place at multiple levels: within individuals, families, communities, nations, regions, and in the context of global governance.

Among the building blocks of development are sound social and economic policies, good governance, respect for human rights, targeted investment that facilitates growth with equity, and citizen engagement. Development is also deeply linked to values (including empowerment, sustainability, participation, enlightened efficiency, and equity) as well as basic freedoms (concerning, illustratively, economic justice, transparency, security, and political expression).